SNIPE AND WILDFOWL 



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by a boatman. We were early afloat and spent the day in 

 beating the reedy shores, and having thoroughly disturbed 

 the birds while securing a few, the boat was forced into a bed 

 of the tallest reeds, from which concealment some more were 

 bagged as they returned to their favourite haunts. Thus we 

 remained till it was no longer possible to see, so poling our way 

 out of the mud, we began to row back to the inn. Having 

 done about half the journey, a breeze sprang up, the parting 

 clouds disclosing a nearly full moon coming over the tops 

 of the Ardmaddy hills, and offering a fine chance of a litde 

 flight-shooting. Now, it had been noticed during the day that 

 almost all the widgeon disturbed from the reeds had passed 

 close to a rock about a quarter of a mile from the Easdale 

 shore, so for this the boat was headed, and jumping on to it, 

 I found it smooth and flat, well above high water mark, and 

 about as large as a dining-table for eight ; so the boat was 

 sent off to return to the reeds and keep the birds moving, 

 but before parting, it was settled I was to be called for at the 

 sound of my whistle. A brilliant moon soon shone out, and 

 the birds coming just as anticipated, there was plenty of 

 shooting. My retriever having lamed himself badly a few days 

 previously, I was unable to gather them as they fell, so trusted 

 to pick up some with the boat and to secure others by sending 

 out a man at daylight. As it was freezing very hard, no great 

 regret was felt when, after the lapse of some three hours, fresh 

 clouds came up to put an end to the sport ; as the whistle 

 sounded shrilly across the waters, shortly could be heard our 

 trusty man working the oars towards the rock. As the boat 

 was painted grey, it was not until she was about a hundred yards 

 off that she could just be discerned, but though the oars were 

 working with heavy thuds against the rowlocks, she did not seem 

 to come any nearer ; then there was a good deal of splashing, 

 and John could be heard muttering, and suddenly his voice rang 

 out, " I'm fast aground, sir!" "Shove off, then, and try from 

 the other side," was the reply. This was done with the like 



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